FEATURES

* No modification of keypad.

* Installed/removed in seconds.

* Not necessary to remove between sessions.

* Contact with NSEW keys only in actual use.

* Incorrect NSEW keys never pushed again.

* Center objects without looking away from the eyepiece.

* Makes ENTER/MODE/GOTO row easy to find by feel alone.

* Makes guiding for astrophotography a breeze.

* Allows total strangers to “drive” your scope around without the danger of pushing a wrong key.

New Product Showcase

"Astronomy", Aug/95 pg. 88

"Sky and Telescope", Oct/95 pg. 47

Find it frustrating having to take your eye away from the eyepiece to find the N S E W keys in order to reposition a star? No more! This new accessory will allow you to maintain your viewing without the slightest disturbance. You simply push the toggle in the direction that you want the object to move in the field. It works at all speeds. Your hand controller needs no modification whatsoever. The unit slips over the bottom and covers only the four directional keys. It literally installs in seconds. Two small set-screws gently hold it in place. Four soft cork pads sit above the directional keys, and touch them only when the toggle is moved. The joystick will even move stars diagonally in the field, if you so wish. It fits all versions of the LX200/Magellan keypads. Units are shipped in flat black to match keypads.

United States- $59.95USD
Canada -89.95 NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH SKY OPTICS

Or order via email at :sbarnes@skyoptics.net

Or call Sky Optics at (905) 631-9944

For more information:
rroy@idirect.com

UNSOLICITED COMMENTS (edited for brevity)

I gave my newly arrived Rob Roy Joy Toy its inauguration last night. This is just another rave about the design and function of Rob's invention. One of its unexpected features is that totally eliminates any mistaken punching of the Enter/Mode/GOTO row of buttons while going for one of the E-W-S-N buttons, since the latter are hidden under the Joystick............. (Robert P.)

Came across a gadget you should all have. I tried it and am sold 100%. It is beautifully made and you gotta have one. This LX200 joystick is slicker than Guzzlers Gin and sure helps when you are trying to center an object and are having trouble finding the NSEW buttons on the control pad. Don't leave home without it! (Jim L.)

Talk about functional simplicity! The Joystick was given a thorough test run last night. It worked wonderfully.. fit snugly onto the hand controller, etc.. The directions were just fine........... By the way, I really did need to reverse N/S, E/W because the joystick makes it so much like a video game, that the natural inclination is to push the stick down (away from you) to make the scope go that way... and right to go to the right, etc.. Great job! (Todd G.)

The Joy-Stick was quite simple to install. It simply slips over the hand controller and is held in place with two hex set-screws. I found that it was a perfect fit. So how was it to use ? A pure joy. I found that it was incredibly responsive. I still had a good *feel* for when the buttons were being depressed. The Joy-Stick has very little "throw". This helps it to be very responsive. I could keep my eye glued to the eyepiece and still easily steer the scope. This worked equally well while viewing through the finder. I also found that I could use the corners of the Joy-Stick as landmarks so I could more easily find other keys without looking at the keypad. When it came to guiding, I found that it was a real toss-up whether to use the Joy-Stick or to simply press the buttons. Anyway you look at it, guiding with the LX200 hand controller is a two handed job. Overall, I look forward to another real cold night, using the Joy-Stick will let me keep my gloves on and still control the scope while at the eyepiece ! (Robert F.)

.............A $39.00 item "MADE" the viewing in a $16,000.00 instrument a whole new, extremely fun experience. People that had never viewed through a telescope, were slewing all over M31, M33, the Veil, and others, with ease, and most importantly, no wrong keys pressed in the dark, to lose the target or screw up the alignment. I could let rookies use the scope with confidence. Heck... it even keeps me from hitting the wrong buttons, and acts as a guide to locate all the other buttons without ever leaving the eyepiece. Your joystick is certainly one of the best values I have ever received. I love to share it with people whenever I can, because it works. (Gary H.)

LX200 joystick that Rob Roy makes.. I still love it, after using it for a year. I tried w/o, because it doesn't fit well on the BB200 platform that mates my tripod to the scope..but couldn't resist putting it back on, and fudging the location on where I set it down. (Todd G.)

Finally got a chance to try the joystick, and I think it's great! I can't wait to retrain my PEC with it. It makes moving the scope much smoother than I could ever do with my fingers. Thanks! (Dick G.)

As an unsolicited plug for Rob's Joystick, I was able to let my 10 and 14 year old daughters take control of the scope while viewing Jupiter and the Moon. It was delightful to hear their comments as they scanned the Moon under moderate magnification. Kids really loved being able to "fly" the scope on their own. Nice addition. (Burt W.)

................The LX200 + Rob's joystick let me drive across the heaven like sitting in a spaceship. There are actually two pieces of equipment one _must_ have with the scope: A TeleVue 20mm Nagler and the joystick. And the joystick is a bargain when compared with the Nagler... Yesterday I was flying along four planets, passed by a dozen glittering globulars and safely reached Hale-Bopp. What a journey! (Achim C)

I finally got the chance to try my new LX-200 joystick this past weekend. In fact, I was immediately impressed with the clean and elegant design and workmanship as soon as I removed it from the box. And its operation did not disappoint. Much easier to use than the pushbuttons on the LX-200 control pad, which always seemed so clumsy to me. Nice piece of work, Rob. I would hate to be without it. I'll bet every LX-200 owner would want one of your joysticks! (Greg H.)

I had a chance to try out my newly delivered Joy Stick by Rob Roy. Quite frankly, I can't imagine ever using my scope without one, now that I have used one. Its great for slewing at high speeds, but especially useful for just centering an object in the eyepiece field of view............. This joy stick definitely makes using my LX-200 a simple and effortless experience. If anyone has ever wondered what it would be like guiding their telescope with a joy stick, this is the thing to get. (Ralph A.)